We are pleased to announce that as of March 4, 2025, an updated Rich Text Editor has been introduced in the MyFitnessPal Community. To learn more about the changes, please click here. We look forward to sharing this new feature with you!
Lost 60 LBS, but I Look Like I Lost 15. Anyone Else?
fatasfack
Posts: 77 Member
So I've lost about 60 lbs so far, but based on my face and stomach, I literally look like I lost 15. I started losing at 212 and now I weigh 154. I've compared a 154 lb picture to a picture from before I gained the weight when I weighed 180 and I actually look skinnier in the 180 picture if you look at my face and mid-section. Has anyone else experienced this? Should I continue to try to lose weight or should I just give up because my body clearly only loses muscle?
0
Replies
-
Lift heavy weights....oh and NEVER give up!0
-
Do you eat enough/enough protein? Also, seconding the heavy lifting.0
-
? worried about losing muscle? lift heavy things or do body weight exercise. Continue losing fat by eating at a reasonable deficit. Grats on the loss! I also recommend taking measurements (waist, thigh, etc) biweekly or monthly or w/e.0
-
missiontofitness wrote: »Do you eat enough/enough protein? Also, seconding the heavy lifting.
I have eaten at least 40 grams of protein a day. The first month of weight loss I ate probably 10 grams and lost 20 lbs. After that month I've averaged about 40.
0 -
You probably look better than you think, lol.
I do know the pain of losing a lot and not looking like you thought you would at that point. Partly loose skin, partly age. The last time I weighed this amount, I was like 20 years old, lol. I cannot expect to look now like I did then!
If muscle is a big concern, lift weights or do bodyweight stuff. It's good for your bones, too.
0 -
I have eaten at least 40 grams of protein a day. The first month of weight loss I ate probably 10 grams and lost 20 lbs. After that month I've averaged about 40.
you should be getting about 130-150 g of protein a day, not 40 grams.0 -
You probably look better than you think, lol.
I do know the pain of losing a lot and not looking like you thought you would at that point. Partly loose skin, partly age. The last time I weighed this amount, I was like 20 years old, lol. I cannot expect to look now like I did then!
If muscle is a big concern, lift weights or do bodyweight stuff. It's good for your bones, too.
Hi, I gained the weight when I was 30 and now I'm 32. Could those 2 years totally reconfigure where fat is distributed in my face and how much of it is in my face?0 -
Liftng4Lis wrote: »
you should be getting about 130-150 g of protein a day, not 40 grams.
Whoa, If I aimed for that much I would never have lost a pound. If a chicken breast is about 40 grams of protein and about 400 calories without skin then I would have to eat 4 of those just to meet that requirement. Doesn't that seem excessive?0 -
Whoa, If I aimed for that much I would never have lost a pound. If a chicken breast is about 40 grams of protein and about 400 calories without skin then I would have to eat 4 of those just to meet that requirement. Doesn't that seem excessive?
NOPE
You need to maintain muscle and it sounds like, as I already mentioned you need to build muscle. You need protein. I'm 135 5'3ish and I try to get 130-150 g of protein a day.0 -
Liftng4Lis wrote: »
NOPE
You need to maintain muscle and it sounds like, as I already mentioned you need to build muscle. You need protein. I'm 135 5'3ish and I try to get 130-150 g of protein a day.
Yeah I second that. I would not last with just 40gr of protein a day. 150 is a bit much for me but I try to get in 120 a day with food.
0 -
40g of protein a day is not enough, especially for a man, and especially not when you're trying to retain muscle.
Lift heavy weights, increase your protein goal (I'd aim for at least 100g a day). I was able to easily get about 120g a day when I was more serious about lifting, so you can definitely do it. Also, make sure you're eating enough and logging accurately. Protein shakes are helpful. Snack on things like pieces of chicken, greek yogurt, and string cheese.0 -
Liftng4Lis wrote: »
NOPE
You need to maintain muscle and it sounds like, as I already mentioned you need to build muscle. You need protein. I'm 135 5'3ish and I try to get 130-150 g of protein a day.
I will try to get more then. I applaud you for being able to get that much without going over your calorie limit. That's really impressive to have that much control over what you eat. I have no control, hence why I gained 60 lbs in the first place.0 -
Whoa, If I aimed for that much I would never have lost a pound. If a chicken breast is about 40 grams of protein and about 400 calories without skin then I would have to eat 4 of those just to meet that requirement. Doesn't that seem excessive?
What is your overall calorie consumption? Protein isn't just meat. It's eggs, cheese, quinoa, fish, milk, vegetables, etc. I don't know what your meals are like but if you add 40gr to each meal then you will easily hit 120gr by the end of the day. It will also keep you full.
Perhaps you need to adjust your macros and, yes, strength train for that tight, compact look.
0 -
Whoa, If I aimed for that much I would never have lost a pound. If a chicken breast is about 40 grams of protein and about 400 calories without skin then I would have to eat 4 of those just to meet that requirement. Doesn't that seem excessive?
There are more protein sources than chicken breast. I eat anywhere from 90-150 grams of protein a day, and my average calorie intake is 1550. I have an aggressive deficit.
As of today I've lost 60 pounds exactly. It's very noticeable, and I weigh more than you did at your starting weight.
Your protein is very low, especially for a man, how are you not hungry? Your diet must be very carb-heavy.
0 -
Whoa, If I aimed for that much I would never have lost a pound. If a chicken breast is about 40 grams of protein and about 400 calories without skin then I would have to eat 4 of those just to meet that requirement. Doesn't that seem excessive?
Basic rule of thumb is 1 gram of protein per pound give or take. I'm 189 I have about 170 grams of protein per day and I'm down 40lbs. The interesting thing about high protein foods is that they tend to have less calories and carbs (again a bit of generalization). Combine that with the fact that protein makes you feel fuller, longer it's a great thing to eat. 250 grams of chicken carries about 51 grams of protein. Your average chicken breast is less than 250 grams in size and closer to about 250 calories not 400.
Search for M&M Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast in MFP and you can see for yourself.
40 grams of protein is not nearly enough - especially if you start lifting heavy weights. You need the protein for the building and repair of the muscle. Keep in mind if you start working out heavier and harder you're actually going to need more food - especially if you want to build muscle.
My 2 cents.0 -
It's true. I had to lose 100 pound before I started feeling like I've lost enough weight to make a difference in my look, and even now I feel myself to be fatter than I used to be in 2002, when I was 15 pounds higher than I am now.You probably look better than you think, lol.
I do know the pain of losing a lot and not looking like you thought you would at that point. Partly loose skin, partly age. The last time I weighed this amount, I was like 20 years old, lol. I cannot expect to look now like I did then!
If muscle is a big concern, lift weights or do bodyweight stuff. It's good for your bones, too.
You can't choose where your fat melts first, so it may just be the case of losing fat from areas that you tend not to pay attention to. Just keep at it and you will eventually get to a point where you start noticing a difference.0 -
Phaedra2014 wrote: »
What is your overall calorie consumption? Protein isn't just meat. It's eggs, cheese, quinoa, fish, milk, vegetables, etc. I don't know what your meals are like but if you add 40gr to each meal then you will easily hit 120gr by the end of the day. It will also keep you full.
Perhaps you need to adjust your macros and, yes, strength train for that tight, compact look.
Thanks, I'll give it a shot, but I eat too many carbs to hit the protein requirement, I think.
0 -
Lourdesong wrote: »
There are more protein sources than chicken breast. I eat anywhere from 90-150 grams of protein a day, and my average calorie intake is 1550. I have an aggressive deficit.
As of today I've lost 60 pounds exactly. It's very noticeable, and I weigh more than you did at your starting weight.
Your protein is very low, especially for a man, how are you not hungry? Your diet must be very carb-heavy.
Wow, good job. I am starving all the time. My diet is very carb heavy. I guess I'm eating all the junk I used to eat and I now less protein so that I can hit my calorie requirement.0 -
amusedmonkey wrote: »It's true. I had to lose 100 pound before I started feeling like I've lost enough weight to make a difference in my look, and even now I feel myself to be fatter than I used to be in 2002, when I was 15 pounds higher than I am now.
You can't choose where your fat melts first, so it may just be the case of losing fat from areas that you tend not to pay attention to. Just keep at it and you will eventually get to a point where you start noticing a difference.
It's good to hear that someone had the same issue. Unfotunately, I'm 15 pounds away from being underweight, so if I don't look right in 15 lbs, I'm stuck this way for the rest of my life. Also, If I lose those 15 lbs, my daily calorie max will be 1900 which is pretty tough to maintain for a guy who is 6 feet tall. I'm afraid I'm probably stuck this way forever0 -
Obviously not age for you.
Hi, I gained the weight when I was 30 and now I'm 32. Could those 2 years totally reconfigure where fat is distributed in my face and how much of it is in my face?
I have the feeling if you ask others, they'll see you differently than you see you.
General protein rule: .8g/kg of body weight/day. Athletes from 1.2 - 1.7/kg BW/day.
I never hit my number. It's hard for me. Working on it!
0 -
.8 g/kg body weight is the minimum RDA which is also considered low for calorie restricted diets in order to retain as much lean body mass as possible. You're about 70kg which means 56g/day is too low. How did you ever come up with 40g?
100 g/day is 400 calories...0 -
Thanks, I'll give it a shot, but I eat too many carbs to hit the protein requirement, I think.
So eat less carbs to balance it out....
0 -
Wow, good job. I am starving all the time. My diet is very carb heavy. I guess I'm eating all the junk I used to eat and I now less protein so that I can hit my calorie requirement.
Protein helps a lot with satiety, as does fiber. I initially just tried to hit the protein goal that MFP has set, then I increased my protein goal once I got into the groove of incorporating protein. I think you'll find your most caloric food entries comes from carbs. I don't eat low carb, I eat roughly the same amount of carbs as I do protein, some days more, some days less, so you don't have to give up carbs, not even your favorite carbs, just cut back some. Carbs and protein are both 4 calories per gram.
Good luck.
0 -
I think it's just the way you see yourself, I've lost 45lbs but I still see myself as the same when I'm clearly not as I've gone from 5xl - 2xl. Scumbag brain is all it is, I find looking at photos helps, for some reason I can see the difference more in a picture than in the mirror.0
-
You lost me at 40 g of protein per day.0
-
Whoa, If I aimed for that much I would never have lost a pound. If a chicken breast is about 40 grams of protein and about 400 calories without skin then I would have to eat 4 of those just to meet that requirement. Doesn't that seem excessive?
I see different numbers. One boneless skinless breast is ~140g, with 155 kcals and 32g protein. You can certainly get your protein and keep to your deficit. I know I did.
0 -
Basic rule of thumb is 1 gram of protein per pound give or take. I'm 189 I have about 170 grams of protein per day and I'm down 40lbs. The interesting thing about high protein foods is that they tend to have less calories and carbs (again a bit of generalization). Combine that with the fact that protein makes you feel fuller, longer it's a great thing to eat. 250 grams of chicken carries about 51 grams of protein. Your average chicken breast is less than 250 grams in size and closer to about 250 calories not 400.
Search for M&M Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast in MFP and you can see for yourself.
40 grams of protein is not nearly enough - especially if you start lifting heavy weights. You need the protein for the building and repair of the muscle. Keep in mind if you start working out heavier and harder you're actually going to need more food - especially if you want to build muscle.
My 2 cents.
It's 1 gram per lb of lean body mass not total body weight, So your way over.0 -
Obviously not age for you.
I have the feeling if you ask others, they'll see you differently than you see you.
General protein rule: .8g/kg of body weight/day. Athletes from 1.2 - 1.7/kg BW/day.
I never hit my number. It's hard for me. Working on it!
Thanks, I don't know if I can muster that, but I'll try. Thanks.0 -
A couple protein shakes in-between meals and you're golden. I get 150 plus grams a day and stay under my 1550 cal goal.0
-
Looks, not important. Health, important. How much visceral fat have you lost? It's hard to tell because it is all internal. You may not have lost as much muscle as you think. However, a good exercise and eating regime never goes astray.0
This discussion has been closed.
Categories
- All Categories
- 1.4M Health, Wellness and Goals
- 391.6K Introduce Yourself
- 44K Getting Started
- 259.7K Health and Weight Loss
- 176.1K Food and Nutrition
- 47.5K Recipes
- 232.3K Fitness and Exercise
- 442 Sleep, Mindfulness and Overall Wellness
- 6.4K Goal: Maintaining Weight
- 8.5K Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
- 152.7K Motivation and Support
- 8.1K Challenges
- 1.3K Debate Club
- 96.3K Chit-Chat
- 2.5K Fun and Games
- 3.2K MyFitnessPal Information
- 23 News and Announcements
- 1.2K Feature Suggestions and Ideas
- 2.7K MyFitnessPal Tech Support Questions